Combined door-plate and letter-receiver



-(Model.)

. H. FREE. Combined Door Plate and Letter Receiver.

No. 231,031. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

WITNESSES: INV/EETOR:

y BY v ATTORNEYS MJEIERS, PHOTUMTHDGRAPnER. WASHINGTON. 01C.

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FFFECEQ HENRY FREE, OF LEVVISTON, MAINE.

COMBINED DOOR-PLATE AND LETTER-RECEIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,031, dated August 10, 1880.

(ModeL) of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Door-Plates and Mail- Receivers, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is afront elevation, partly in section, of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken through the line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish combined door-plates and mail-receivers so constructed as to keep rain, snow, wind, and cold from entering the opening in the door, and which will allow the name or number to be readily changed.

Theinvention consists in eonstructingacombined door-plate and mail-receiver with the spring-hinges D, having set-screws G, the hing ing rod E, the hinged inner plate and the spring-catch, whereby the name-card will be held in place and the mail-receiving opening covered, as will be hereinafter fully described.

A represents a door, through which is formed an inclined slit or opening, B, through which letters and other mail-matter can be inserted and allowed to drop to the floor or into a receiving-box.

To the outer side of the door A is secured by screws a plate, 0, in such a position that the slot formed through it may correspond with the slot B.

To the upper corners of the plate 0 or directly to the door A are attached springs D, which project outward, upward, and inward, and have eyes formed in their upper ends to receive a rod, E, the ends of which are riveted or otherwise secured to the upper parts of the end flanges of the plate F. The plate F has flanges upon its side and end edges to rest against the side of the door, as shown in Fig. 2. The plate F is held firmly against the door by the springs D, the tension of which is regulated by set-screws G, which pass through them and into the plate 0. The middle part of the plate F is cut away to allow the name or number upon the card H to be seen through the glass plate I, interposed between the said card H and the plate F. The card H is held in place by a plate, J, the upper edge of which is hinged to the rod E.

The plate J has lips formed upon its lower edge to receive the lower edge of the card H. The lower edge of the plate J is secured in place, when closed, by a spring-catch, K, attached to the bottom flange of the plate F. Upon the lower edge of the plate F is formed a lip, L, for convenience in raising the said plate to uncover the opening B.

Rubber blocks may be attached to the plate 0 or to the door A to prevent noise when the plate F drops against the door A.

The opening B is covered upon the inner side of the door A by a plate, M, which is hinged to the door A by springs N attached to the said door, and connected with the plate M by a rod, 0.

The plate M has inwardly-projectin g flanges upon its upper edge and upon its end edges to rest against the door, the lower edge bein g without a flange, so that letters and other mail matter pushed in through the slot 13 will not be obstructed, but will push back the plate M and drop to the floor or into a receiving-box.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A combined door-plate and mail-receiver, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of the spring-hinges D, having set-screws G, the hinging-rod E, the plate F, having its edges flanged and its middle part cut away, the hinged inner plate, J and the spring-catch K, as set forth.

2. In a combined door-plate and mail-receiver, the combination, with the flanged plate F, of the hinging-wire E and the spring-hinges D, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the plate F is hinged to and held against the door, as set forth.

3. In a combined door-plate and mail-receiver, the combination, with the springs D that hinge the plate F to the door, of the setscrews Gr, substantially as herein shown and described, for regulating the pressure with which the plate F is held against the door, as set forth.

4. In a combined door-plate and mail-re- 5 ceiver, the combination, with the plate F, the

hinging-rod E, and the springs D, of the hinged plate J and the spring-catch K, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the name-card is secured in place in the flanged plate F, as set forth.

HENRY FREE. Witnesses FREMONT E. TIMBERLAKE, ALBERT R. SAVAGE. 

